Mat Classic: Yeik, Reece earn second state wrestling titles

Kingston's Bobby Reece III puts a hold on East Valley Spokane's Braydan Berezay during their 152-pound championship bout at the Mat Classic on Saturday. Reece won his second state title, capping another unbeaten season.
(MEEGAN M. REID / KITSAP SUN)

Cody's father can be proud of what his son accomplished in his three seasons. Holding the school record for career/season takedowns and career/season pins, Yeik needed a win in the 132-pound finals against Toppenish's Aaron Arrendondo to match Branden's career wins record (107).

Yeik showed patience in the first period, scoring a pivotal takedown late to go up 2-0. Another late takedown in the second period gave him a 4-1 lead. Yeik earned an escape in the final period to win 5-1, finishing his season at 38-2.

After the victory, Yeik talked about the sport he and his family love.

"It's taught me so much," said Yeik, who has been offered enrollment at the University of Wyoming, but isn't sure he'll wrestle for the Cowboys. "Wrestling, it's all you, all the time."

Even though Branden, who watched Cody win his first state title last season, wasn't able to be at the Tacoma Dome on Saturday, he watched his brother's match online.

"The fact that Branden wasn't able to be here with us was kind of a hard thing," Camie said. "It's usually been all three of us all these years."

With one career at Olympic ending, another one at Kingston is on the rise. Sophomore Bobby Reece III joined Yeik as a two-time state champion by beating Braydan Berezay of East Valley-Spokane 11-0 in the Class 2A finals at 152 pounds. He finished his season with a 38-0 record.

Reece felt the title was his to win after he survived an overtime match against another state champion — Cheney's Elias Mason — in Friday's quarterfinal round.

"The bracket was backwards," said Kingston coach Bobby Reece, whose son is now 78-0 in his career. "It came out perfect."

The coach said his son won't have any problem being motivated moving forward. There are more wins and more titles in his sights.

"I don't see him changing," Reece said. "He's going to compete. He doesn't want to lose, so he's not going to let up. This family, we work for everything we get."

Reece III said he also has goals that go beyond high school, so he's willing to keep putting in the work to get better.

"I know what it's all for," Reece said. "I want to go to college."

"He's got to take that seriously," his father added. "He'll be the only person in our family to go to college."

Brian and Adam Burchett of Klahowya both fell one win short of claiming state titles.

Brian Burchett lost to Ellensburg's Wyatt Scribner 6-2 at 113 pounds.

Burchett, a sophomore who bested defending state champion Zac Joaquin of North Mason in the semifinals, trailed 3-2 after one period against Scribner and could not recover.

Adam Burchett, a junior who lost to Scribner in the state finals last season, settled for second again after he was pinned by Deer Park's Jake Konzal in the first period at 120 pounds.